Sudbury OPP Continuing Distracted Driving

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Sudbury is continuing to warn drivers about operating their vehicles distracted, in a bid to cut escalating rates of accidents resulting from distracted driving. The police force is concerned about the levels of incidents in the city and is educating drivers about the risks and ramifications.

The March Break between March 14, 2016 to March 20, 2016, will be when the Sudbury OPP will double down on its Distracted Driving Campaign. Distracted driving is one of the chief causes of traffic collisions in Canada, with cellular phone use a primary cause of concern despite using a mobile device while driving has been illegal for over a decade in Ontario.

During 2015, some 299 people died on Ontarian roads, with distracted driving being the chief cause of death, above speeding, impaired driving, or other factors.

Driver inattention-related deaths: 69
Speed-related deaths: 61
Lack of seat belt use: 51
Impaired-related deaths: 45

Law enforcement is even discouraging the use of hands free systems for using cellular devices, as even these have been shown to cause enough distraction to cause accidents. The OPP says drivers should only use their hands free kits in the following circumstances:

The vehicle is off the roadway or lawfully parked
Must not be in motion
Is not impeding traffic

Emergency calls to police, fire or emergency medical services (if possible drivers should pull off the road)
Most common types of distracted driving:

Visual — taking your eyes off the road
Manual — taking your hands of the wheel
Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

If a driver is caught using a mobile products and other devices, there is a $490.00 fine and three demerit points on a license. Continued infractions of careless driving can lead to fines as high as $2,000 a revoked license and guaranteed higher auto insurance premiums.